U.S. Rebukes Leader of ‘palestine Arab Delegation’ at United Nations

November 15, 1963

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Nov. 14)

The United States today openly accused Ahmad Shukairy, spokesman for the so-called “Palestine Arab Delegation,” of making “many misstatements.” Israel and other delegations here have frequently accused Shukairy of “distortions,” but the U.S.A. has avoided characterizing Shukairy’s many diatribes.

Today, Shukairy took up the entire morning meeting of the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee, where the Arab refugee problem has been under debate for two weeks, with a long harangue. This time, he directed most of his criticism against the United States, hitting at Israel only obliquely. He attacked former President Truman, rapped American Ambassadors Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. and Adlai E. Stevenson, accused the U.S.A. of being “dishonest” on Israel and the Arab refugee question, called upon the U.S.A. to resign from the Palestine Conciliation Commission.

When Shukairy had finished his two-and-a-half hour speech, Mercer Cook, U. S. representative in the committee, told the group in 30 seconds he would not “dignify” Shukairy’s remarks with a formal answer because the speaker had made “many misstatements” and had indulged in “personal insults and abuse.” Shukairy, he said, “had been insulting to the intelligence of the committee and its members.” Furthermore, Mr. Cook said, Shukairy had done “no service to the Palestine refugees for whom American people have so much respect and sympathy.”

Israel is expected to deliver its major address on the refugee question tomorrow. A behind-the-scenes move was under way to frame a resolution calling on Israel and the Arab states to undertake peace negotiations. At least 21 members were expected to sponsor that resolution; among these would be the West Europeans, Latin American and Africans.